Foldable stretcher



Sept 3, 1946- G. B. LEATHER ET AL I FOLDABLE STRTCHER Filed MaIGh-27,1944 2 SheelfS--Sheei'I l .knew/Pl, n

SePt- 3, 1946 G. B. LEATHER Er'AL 2,407,085

FOLDABLE STRETCHER I Filed March 27, 1944 l Z'Sheets-Sheet 2 #D g QM.

Patented Sept. 3, 1946 Wallbanks, Feltham, England, assignors to GeneralAircraft Limited, Feltham, Middlesex,

England Application March 27, 1944, serial No. 528,294 In Great BritainSeptember 7, 1942 Y 1 r The present invention relates to foldablestretchers and stretcher frames.

It is an object of the invention to provide a'v ioldable stretcher in aconvenient, practicable, simple and strong form, which can beeiiectively reduced in overall length and wdith without in any wayimpairing the strength and rigidity and general effectiveness as astretcher. A particu- `Figure 6 "is a detailed end elevation of a legsupport, the nature, function and operation of which will be `understoodfrom the ensuing description; while Figure 7 is a fragmentary sideelevation to a" greatly reduced scale in proportion to the remainlarobject of the invention is the provision of an arrangement which enablesa full-size stretcher to be folded in such form that it can convenientlybe stowed into a comparatively smally container adapted and arranged tobe dropped, preferably suspended by a parachute, from an aircraft.

The present invention consists in a foldable stretcher frame comprisingside rails to carry the stretcher canvas, each side rail having at eachend a handle pivotable on a transverse axis. p

A sectional transverse stay foldable about a pivot intermediate itsendsis terminally connected at each end to the handles between the freeends of the handles and the pivots connecting the handles and siderails. The handlesare foldable through substantially 180 substantiallyinto the horizontal plane of the side rails without projecting beyondthem lengthwise, whereas the transverse stays are foldable to permitapproach of the side rails for reduction of overall width of the frame.

The stretcher canvas can be secured in position in any convenient mannerand it is preferred that the transverse stays shall be adapted andarranged to engage under projecting ends of the side rails to providesupport thereat intermediate the outer end of each handle and itstransverse pivot. l

In order that it may .be clearly understood Figure 3 is an inverted viewcorrespondingto Figure 2, but showing the side rails in the position ofminimum width with the handles also folded over inwardly to reduce theoverall length;

Figure 4 is a section on the line IV`IV of Figure 3 Figure 5 is an endview looking on the left--` hand end of Figure 3;

ing figures showing how either end of the stretch-V er can be folded upto provide a back rest so that a patient can use the stretcher in asittingup position.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1, the

improved stretcher includes a main section com--V prising side rails I Iwith canvas support I0 connected thereto. A handle section is connectedat each end of the main section and includes handle bars I3 alsoconnected by canvas and connected to the side rails I I by pivots I2.ots I2 are transverse the stretcher, one for each handle bar and engagethe ends of the handle bars with the side rails II, near the ends of thelatter so as to leave deiinite lengths I I of the side rails beyond thepivots toward the handle sections. The handle sections each include aioldable stay I4 bridging the bars I3 and connected to the bars I3 bytubular pivots I6 extending at right angles to the plane of thestretcher and passing through the bars I3 at points outwardly of thepivots I2 somewhat less than the lengths II of the side rails. The stayis made `of two separate lengths pivotally connected, as

` at I5', at an intermediate length of the stay by a member I5 of anangular cross section (L-shape for example) welded or otherwise securedadjacent one end portion to one of the stay members I4 with itsvopposite end portion arranged and adapted to overlap the adjacentportion o f the other stay member, the freely projected right angularflange of the member I5 limiting the play of the stay parts in onedirection, substantially with the 'same eiiect as in a conventional rulejoint. n As shown, the pivotally connected ends of the stay parts arevsecured to the tubular pivots I6 on the'underside of the handle bars,and when the stay members are in extended relation they each underliethe extended lengths I Il of the side rails near the ends thereof. Thus,when the handle sections are extended the ends of the side rails II bearon the stay parts t'o aid in supporting the weight of the patient on themain length erMthe respective side rails I I and also the`re The piv- 3spective handle bars I3 of each handle section are moved toward eachother and tend to collapse or fold the stretcher and in this movementthe stay ends ride from beneath the free ends of the lengths II of theside rails, freeing the handle sections for freer folding over and ontothe main section and having yet another and important function to belater referred to. The canvas I is attached to the side rails II in anyconvenient manner, for example by stitching or eyeleting and, inpreferred constructions, the canvas extends beyond the ends of the siderails II for attachment to the handles I3. Where the canvas is soextended it is preferably slotted or cutaway, as indicated at Il, inorder to avoid any possibility of the canvas being caught up in thepivots or between the handles I3 and side rails Il in the foldingoperation. To strengthen the stretcher longitudinally, straps I8 and I9are provided and it will be noted that the strap I8 is somewhat longerthan the strap I El. Thatasyrnmetry in regard to the length of the strapis deliberately devised for a purpose which will later be understood inthe description with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

When it is desired to reduce the overall width and length of thestretcher, the rst operation is to eiect the folding of the transversestay I4` about its intermediate pivot I5. The stretcher bearer or otherattendant, therefore engages the stay HI` in the vicinity of the pivotI5 and-pulls it outwardly from one end of the stretcher and the lateralcollapsing operation to reduce the overall width of the stretcher framethen proceeds automatically, as clearly seen with reference to Figure 2.whereas Figure 2 is fragmentary and therefore illustrates only one end,the same thing is happening at the other end, although the respectiveend foldings need not necessarily be performed simultaneously.

Having so effectively reduced the overall width of the stretcher framethat the side rails II lie substantially contiguous with only thethickness of the stretcher canvas I0 between them, the next operation isto reduce effectively the overall length which is done by folding overthe handles I3 at each end until they lie alongside and in the plane ofthe side rails I I.

A point which is made clear in Figurel is the manner in which thestretcher canvas II! is passed through between the side rails II so thatthe main part of the sheet lies on the underside of the side rails inthe fully folded condition. There is also indica-ted in Figurle 4 theposition which the straps I8 and I9 can be caused to take. The strap I8,as was particularly noted in the description with reference to Figure l,is the longer strap and if that part of the strap I8 which is shown inFigure l in dotted lines be pulled out in the folded condition of thestretcher, the slack, due to the fold over of the end portion of thestretcher canvas, is taken up so that the` strap Virtually takes a bowedformation extending between the slots through which it passes in thecanvas. The samething can be done in regard to the strap I'9, but beingof lesser length the bowed formation produced by the'strap I9 is not solarge. Nevertheless, if the` strap I8 be wrapped round the foldedstretcher and engaged through the loop I9, as shown in chain lines, the

straps can vbe used to provide'not only a con- Venient carrying handlewith the stretcher in theV foldedform, but also to provide'somefrneasureof It will be appreciated that,`

security for holding the stretcher in the folded form.

Figure 5 merely adds to the description over and above that alreadydealt with, the feature of providing small supporting feet or legsindicated in Figure 5 by the reference numeral 2U. The feet or legs 29are also seen in Figure 3 and are provided at the four corners of thefolded frame.

In Figure 6 there is indicated a convenient form of leg support whichmay be provided for use in cases where a leg injury requires that theleg beA supported with the foot space well above the foot end of thestretcher. Accordingly, the cross-bar 2l has pivotally connected at eachend, the lateral sup'port members 22 at the foot of each of which theprong 23 is provided. For mounting the leg support it is convenient toengage the prongs 23 in the tubular pivots I6, which pivots I6 pivotallyconnect the ends of the transverse stays I4 to their cooperating handlesI3. It will be noted from Figure that the natural width betweenthecentres of the prongs 23, with the prongs parallel readyv forinsertion into the tu- Fbular membersV It,l is slightly greater than theoverall-widthbetween the centres of the pivots, as indicated by thechain line position' of the handle and side rails inthe fully extendedcondition. Such an Larrangement involves .the neces- 1sity for engagingther prongs 23 into the tubular members`4 I (iYY with the /leg supportseach'l moved from its naturaliposition,A the arrangement being such thatwhen mounted the Ylateral supports 22 of the leg support must take upthe position indicated in chain lines in Figure 6.

In order to'adapt thel stretcher for use by'sitting-up cases, thehandles I3' at theheadend can be lockedin the upwardlyl extendingvcondition to provide a backrest. done, let it lee-assumed that thestretcher isv already 'in the vextended condition shown in Figure 1. Ifthen itis required to put the head end vas an inclined back rest, asshown in Figure 7, thel lateral Width of the-stretcher vframe isfreducedto 'a condition which'is just slightly narrowerthan that shown inFigureZ. In such a position, the

foldedtransverse stay- I4' clears the ends II' ofV the side rails IIjust suflicientlyY to'enable theY handles I3 vto=b`elfolded up. Oneback-support orv handlesectiOnisthenrased to an inclined position onthepivotsIZ, and inthis movement-of the handle sectionthe stays adjacentthe pivots- IIA are moved into'a plane above the .ends of the sectionsII of theside rails II of the ymain section. The-stays I4- are then movedinto-spread or operative position to spread the stretchrand the'inclinedhandle'section permitted 'to swing on the pivots- I2 until the stay'endsrest-uponv the upper surfacesof the endsIIf of' the `adjacentsiderailsof'the/-main section. This holds the inclined handle section atIadenite linclinationto the main sectionfor service-as-aback rest. Inthatposition the end of thev feet 20 at the head end line up with the innerend of the hollow box section steel. The' canvas vII) may beYToenablethat to be detachable. The straps I8 and I9, which are largelyoptional, can be attached to the canvas by stitching or in anyconvenient manner and, although preferably adapted and arranged to passthrough slots to leave a substantial portion both above and below thecanvas, there is no reason why the straps should not be provided whollyabove or wholly below the canvas. The feet likewise are largelyoptional.

What we claim is:

1. A foldable stretcher frame, including side rails, a handle pivotallyconnected to each end of each side rail on a horizontal pivot forswinging to operative positionsbeyond the ends of the side rails or toinoperative positions within the lengths of said side rails, a canvassection secured to said side rails and to said handles, a transversestay at each end of the lateral side rails and each comprising two partspivotally connected, the outer ends of the stays being pivotallyconnected to the handles at the respective ends of the frame on verticalpivots, said canvas being cut away to avoid canvas gripping adjacent thepivotal connections of the handles, the handles when in operativeposition providing with the lateral side rails an extended stretcherframe and when in inoperative position reducing the overall length ofthe frame, the stays when moved on their inner pivots reducing the widthof the frame.

2. A construction as defined in claim 1, wherein the handles and siderails are pivotally connected by tubular pivots, and wherein a foot restis provided for the frame, said foot rest including a cross member anddepending members connected to the cross member, said depending membershaving terminal ends to seat in said tubular pivots to support the crossmember in spaced relation above and transverse the frame.

3. A construction as defined in claim 1, wherein longitudinallyextending straps are attached at their ends to the canvas, with theirintermediate portions free of connection with the canvas, whereby whenthe structure is reduced in length and width, the free portions of thestraps may be drawn upon to take up slack in the straps, to form a tiefor the frame, and to mutually interengage to form a carrying handlel 4.A stretcher including a main section including spaced side rails and ahandle section including spaced handle bars, a canvas connected to theside rails and to the handle bars, the handle bars being swinginglyconnected to the side rails, and stays pivotally connected at their endsto the handle bars and each made up of two bars pivotally connected atan intermediate point to cause the stay bars when aligned to space theside rails and handle bars and when moved on their intermediate pivotsto move the respective side rails and the respective handle bars towardeach other, the ends of the stay bars when aligned underlying andcontacting with the adjacent ends of the side rails to support the mainsection when the main section and handle section are in substantiallyhorizontal stretcher-forming alignment.

5. A stretcher including a main section including spaced side rails anda handle section including spaced handle bars, a canvas connected to theside rails and to the handle bars, the handle bars being swinginglyconnected to the side rails, and stays pivotally connected at their endsto the handle bars and each made up of two bars pivotally connected atan intermediate point to cause the stay bars when aligned to space theside rails and handle bars and when moved on their intermediate pivotsto move the respective side rails and the respective handle bars towardeach other, the ends of the bars of the stays underlying and contactingthe ends of the adjacent side rails when the stays are extended and themain and handle sections of the stretcher are in substantial alignmentand moved free of such contact when the stays are moved on theirintermediate pivots to collapse the stretcher, a handle section beingmovable into inclined relation to the main section when the associatedstay bars are free of the ends of the side rails, the inclined positionof a handle section carrying the ends of the stay bars to overlie andcontact the ends of the adjacent side rails to prevent movement of theinclined handle section in one direction.

6. A stretcher including a main section of independent side rails, ahandle section of independent` handle bars pivotally connected to theside rails, and. a stay having an intermediate joint to permit extendedor folded positions of the stay, the ends of the `stay being connectedto the handle bars in such relation to the adjacent ends of the siderails that when the handle section is swung upwardly in a substantiallysimilar plane with the main section the ends of the stays will underlieand support the main section, such stay ends when the handle section isat an inclination to the plane of the main section being in a positionto overlie and contact the adjacent ends of the side rails to maintainthe relatively inclined position of the handle section, and canvas car--ried by the side rails.

C'rEORGrE BERREIIL LEATHER.

WILLIAM HASTINGS WALLBANKS.

